Musical action toy



22 l5-E X Fig. 3.

W. P. DOE ET AL MUSICAL ACTION TOY Filed Jan. 28, 1953 May 25, 1954INVENTORS 6 MLTER R 005 and BY HERMAN 6. FISHER 5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE MUSICAL ACTION TOY Walter P.Doe and. Herman G. Fisher; East: Aurora, N. Y.', assignorsto-Fisher-Price Toys,. Inc., East Aurora, N. Y.

AppIication'JanuaryZS, 1953, Serial 'No. 333,732

8 Claims.

1 This invention relates to action toys, and more specifically tomusical toys of the typewherein music producing mechanisms are motivatedin.

response to trundling of the toy across a floor or'pavement surface orthelike.

One of the objects of the present invention is to'provide an improvedtoy of the character described whereby an improved music producingaction is obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toyemployingamusical sound producing unit of thepercussion bar or Xylophone. type.

Another object of the invention is to provide an'improved toy asaforesaid which is so designed and-constructed as to be adapted to befabricated relatively inexpensively.

Another object of the invention is to provide animproved toy asaforesaid which is .of mechanically simple and rugged construction.

Another object of the invention isto provide an improved toy asaforesaid which is productive ofimproved musical tones.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thespecificationhereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is-a fragmentary. side elevation, partly in section, illustratinga toy-wagon embodying animproved music producing mechanism of thepresent invention;

Fig; 2 is a fragmentary section,.taken along line Il'.-II of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section, taken along.

line IIIIII of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational'view ofa modified form of theactuator element of the mechanism, in disassembled relation therefrom.

As shown in the drawing, the invention is embodied in a toy'wagonillustrtaed as comprising sidepanels lH; end panels l2-l3'; and a.

top .panel M; the toy wagon being mounted by means of an axle l5 andsidewheels l6!5 for.

rolling movement over a floor or pavement or the like.

Asindicated at 58-! B the Wagon may be'fitted with. shafts leading. intoconnection with an.

pulkor pushzthe toy across -a floor surfacerorthee like whereupon thetraction wheels l6'--l 6 which 2v aregeared totheaxle IE-will cause thelatter. to rotate incidental to movement of the toy;

The musical sound producing mechanism of the present invention isillustrated asbeing activated inaresponse torotation of the axle l5. Forthis" purpose interiorly ofthe wagon device the axle=l 5- isconveniently fitted with. a Wood cylinder. 20 into which are driven wirestaples-22 at inter-- vals around the periphery of the cylinder- 20.Furthermore; the staples-22 are relatively spaced longitudinally of thecylinder 20 so as to beadapted topluck against laterally aligned rockers2. 1 whichhare' individually pivotallysuspended from a crossbar 26 whichextends transversely between thesidepanels ill-H of the wagon--construction.

Each of the rockers 24 is bored in fore and aft direction to receive'inslide-fitting and rigidly extending relation therethrough a helicallycoiled wire spring 28; the rocker 24 engaging the'spring intermediatelyof its :ends and the rear end portion-of each spring being looselyreceived within a relatively large opening 29 formed in the rear panelI3 of the wagon construction, while the front end portion of each springmounts in firmly fixed relation thereon "a striker head. 30.

A cross channel-sectioned beam 321 formed of. wood or other suitablematerial as-shown in Fig. 1 is mounted to extend transversely of theinterior of the- Wagon construction, and in turn mounts thereon a seriesof percussion or Xylophone bars. in registrywitheach of the-strikerheads 30, as. indicated at 34. Preferably as shown in the drawing, themusical bars-34 are provided with spaced-vertical supports by means ofparallel. felt strips 36'having their lower edges embedded. in the crossbeam-32; and the percussion bars 34 are held against sliding disassemblyfrom the cross beam 32: as by means of headed nails 38 driven throughenlarged apertures in the percussion bars.

The parts are so dimensioned and relatively arranged that whenever thetraction wheelslB-IB' rotatetto thereby'drive'the axle cylinder 20, thestapledevices 22 thereupon pluck their respective rockersi' i soastotilt the latteraway from their normal straight line attitudes (due tothe natural stiffness of." the spring devices 28) was to'lift thestriker heads 30 relativeto' the percussion" bars 34. Then; upon'furtherrotation of theaxle unit the rocker are released by the-staplesZZwhereupon the-natural resiliencies-of the spring devices 28-" operate tocause: the striker heads "to' be" brought down, sharply into percussion:cons tacts "with-the musical bars ii r. When the assos ciated rocker 24is released from the lifting pressure of the corresponding staple theinherent resiliency of the spring member 23 functions immediately totent. to straight out the spring member so as to return the rocker 24 toits nor mal downwardly pointed attitude as shown in Fig. 1.

Thi action upon the rocker 24 thereupon operates to impart to the rearend portion of the spring 23 a levelling out pressure which functions tocause the striker head 3! to tend to rebound away from its strikingcontact against the associated musical bar 3d; thereby preventing anymuiiling of the musical tone vibrations which have been set up in thebar E l by virtue of the percussion impact just received. In. order toobtain the full effect referred to hereinabove, it is preferred toarrange that the rear end portion of the spring iiii is relatively freeto move slightly in and out as well as up and down in the aperture 26 inthe rear wall portion of the toy wagon construction; thereby avoidingthe imposition of any secondary resti ing forces upon the free action ofthe spring rrdescribed hereinabove. At the same time the aperture 25functions to position the end portion of the spring 28 While the rookoperates simultaneously to position the intermediate portion of thespring 28; thereby sgacillzin the spring generally in the desiredattitude throughout the entire cycle of operation.

As shown in Fig. for example, the percussion bars 34% may be provided ofany desired number and of different dimensions and/ or otherwiseprovided so as to produce difierent musical sounds when vibrated uponimpacts with the striker heads 39.

It will of course appreciated that the various elements of the toyconstruction may be fabricated of any desired materials and may berelatively dimensioned in any preferred form; and that the musical bardevices 34 and the associated striker heads all may b provided in anydesired number so to produce any desired combination of musical tonesincidental to rotation of the wheel axle unit of the toy device. Asshown in Figure it is preferred to dispose the staples 22 in inclined"tildes instead of parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 15,when driving the staples i to the cylinder 20. This imparts an improvedg action of the staples against the contact end portions of the rockers24.

It will appreciated that the toy construction of the invention providesa particularly compact toy parts arrangement well as an improved musicbar strike mechanism. The fact that the picker cylinder and music barsupport block 32 d sed in side-by- *ide relation while the bar str rerspi rigs 28 extend crosswise thereabove and are stabilized by theirmountings at 257 in the toy box wall, enables the enclosing boxstructure to be or" greatly reduced dimensions compared to arrangementsof the prior art. Also, it will of course be understood that whereasonly one form of invention has been shown and described in detail, theinvention. is not so limited, but that various changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended. claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a musical toy of the percussion bar type, in combination, asupport member, wheel means mounting said support member for rollingmovement across a' floor or the like, a sounding bar iii 4 mounted uponsaid support and, adapted to be hammered to produce musical sounds, aresilient spring device flexible away from the longitudinal axisthereof, said spring device being rigidly mounted intermediately of itends upon a rocker device which is in turn pivotally mounted upon saidsupport, said support member comprising positional restraint meansengaging one end of said spring device, a bar striker member mountedupon the other end of said spring device, cam means extending from saidwheel means for intermittently rocking said rocker device so as to causesaid striker to be lifted and then released to snap back into percussionstriking action against said bar.

2. In a musical toy oi the Xylophone bar type, in combination, a supportmember, wheel means mounting said support member for rolling movementacross a fioor or the like, a sounding bar mounted upon said support andadapted to be struck to produce musical sounds, a resilient spring, saidspring being carried intermediately of its ends upon a rocker pivotdevice extending from said support, support member comprising positionalrestraint means engaging one end of said spring, a striker membermounted upon the other end of said spring, cam means extending from saidwheel means for intermittently rocking said rocker pivot device so as tocause the striker end portion of said spring to be elastically deflectedand then released so as to snap back into percussion striking actionagainst said bar.

3. In a musical toy of the percussion bar type, in combination, abox-like housing member, wheel means at opposite sides of said housingand an axle extending therebetween and mounting said housing member forrolling movement across a floor or the like, a sounding bar supportextending transversely inside said housing member, a sounding barmounted upon said support and adapted to be hammered to produce musicalsounds, a resilient elongated spring slip fitted at one of its ends in arecess formed in a wall portion of said housing, a rocker pivoted uponsaid housing at a position above said axle, said spring being rigidlymounted intermediately of its ends upon said rocker, a bar strikermounted upon the free end of said spring, cam means extending from saidaxle for intermittently rocking said rocker so as to cause the strikerend portion of said pring to be resiliently deflected and then releasedso as to snap back into percussion striking action against said bar.

4. In a musical toy of the percussion bar type, in combination, a toyframe having vertical side portions, wheel means mounting said frame forrolling movement across a door or the like, a sound bar mounted toextend interiorly of said frame and adapted to be struck to producemusical sounds, a rocker pivotally mounted on said frame, a springrigidly mounted intermediately of its ends upon said rocker, holdingmeans at a wall portion of said frame engaging one end of said spring, abar striker member mounted upon the other end of said spring, cam ineansrotating with said wheel means for intermittently actuating said rockerso as to deflect said spring and cause the striker end portion of saidspring to be carried away from and then released so as to snap back intopercussion striking action against said bar.

5. In a musical toy or the percussion bar type, in combination, asupport member, wheel means mounting said support member for rollingmovement across a floor or the like, a sounding bar mounted upon saidsupport and adapted to be hammered to produce musical sounds, aresilient spring device flexible away from the longitudinal axisthereof, said spring device being rigidly mounted intermediately of itsends upon a rocker device which is in turn pivotally mounted upon saidsupport, said support member comprising deflection restraint meansslidably engaging one end of said spring device, a bar striker membermounted upon the other end of said spring device, and means extendingfrom said Wheel means for intermittently lifting and releasing saidrocker device so as to cause said striker to be deflected and thenreleased to snap back into percussion striking action against said bar.

6. In a musical toy of the Xylophone bar type, in combination, a supportmember, wheel means mounting said support member for rolling movementacross a floor or the like, a sounding bar mounted upon said support andadapted to be struck to produce musical sounds, an elongated resilientspring, said spring being carried intermediately of its ends upon apivot device extending from said support, said support member comprisingdeflection restraint means slidably engaging one end of said spring, astriker member mounted upon the other end of said spring, and meansextending from said wheel means for actuating the striker end portion ofsaid spring to intermittently lift and release said striker end portionof said spring so as to snap said striker back into percussion strikingaction against said bar.

'7. In a musical toy of the percussion bar type, in combination, abox-like housing member, Wheel means at opposite sides of said housingand an axle extending therebetween and mounting said housing member forrolling movement across a floor or the like, a sounding bar supportextending transversely inside said housing mem her, a sounding barmounted upon said support and adapted to be hammered to produce musicalsounds, a resilient elongated spring restrained at one of its ends byengagement with a wall por' tion of said housing, a rocker pivoted uponsaid housing at a position above said axle, said spring being rigidlymounted intermediately of its ends upon said rocker, a bar strikermounted upon the free end of said spring, and cam means extending fromsaid axle for intermittently pivoting said rocker so as to cause thestriker end portion of said spring to be resiliently deflected and thenreleased so as to snap said striker back into percussion striking actionagainst said bar.

8. In a musical toy of the percussion bar type, in combination, a toyframe having vertical side portions, Wheel means mounting said frame forrolling movement across a floor or the like, a sound bar mountedinteriorly of said frame and adapted to be struck to produce musicalsounds, a rocker pivotally mounted on said frame, a spring rigidlymounted intermediately of its ends upon said rocker, holding means at awall portion of said frame engaging one end of said spring, a barstriker member mounted upon the other end of said spring, cam meansrotating with said Wheel means for intermittently actuating said rockerso as to alternately deflect and release said spring and to cause thestriker end portion of said spring to be carried away from and thenreleased so as to snap back into percussion striking action against saidbar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,707,826 Tsobanacos Apr. 2, 1929 1,933,004 Boisselier Oct.81, 1933 2,089,885 Fisher Aug. 10, 1937 2,259,629 Fisher Oct. 21, 1941

